Miracles of Norman Architecture in Monreale and Palermo

Buongiorno, my name is Patricia. I am a Doctor in Art History and History . My compatriot, the famous scholar and poet, J. W. Goethe, who visited Sicily in the 18th century, brought it to the point. He wrote in his Italian Journey that " Italy without Sicily does not create a picture in the soul, here is the key to everything (. . . )". I can only agree to what he said, because Sicily is the key to understand european culture and behaviour, and at the same time, Sicily's function as a link between orient and occident. It was on a holiday, I was taken for the first time to this marvellous island, when I was eight years old. It was love at first sigth. My enthusiam for and deep connectedness with Sicily starts here. My thirty years guiding experience started about 12 years later. As an eight year old, I was amazed by the responsability of the young sicilian shepherd boy. Every morning he was passing by with his flock of sheep in front of our hotel. A picture, I knew from television, but not from reality. Two times I even made it to walk along with him and his sheep on the beach, until I heard my mothers voice shouting, out of fear I could get lost. It is not a shepherd I am living with, but and wonderfull sicilian father and son. Every day means a great exchange of two very different cultures and points of view. I am fascinated by the sicilian history, nature and variety in it. My interest in arts and architecture, such as the unique arab norman style, or the spanish barock interpretation, are only two aspects, which I like to show you during our common visit. Palermo is a perfect link between past, present and future. Together with Cordoba in Spain it was the center of the mediterranean world in the 10th and 11th century. The arab norman splendor of the 12th century was nothing but a renewal of it. Until 1492 Sicily and Palermo lasted being a hotspot for culture and commerce. Then the global commercial energy was taken over the Atlantic -overseas. Only the arabic inspired markets in Palermo remain a reflection of a special arabic rooted energy from the past. For being cultural capital in 2018 Palermo restarted to generate curiosity. The fact, that many of the arab norman monuments were restored, reveals the importance they held as a Word Heritage. Palermo a synonym for norman splendor and richness and the assimilation of different styles into a new harmony and result. Every building has its own sicilian touch, which I will show you looking at different palaces and curches in and outside Palermo. Where ever you go, it is meeting between past and present. Young sicilians like to cook as the grandparents, in a traditional way and sicilian grandparents like to keep up with the faishon and the „bella figura" of the youngsters. Every day seems to be a celebration. Even hard working Sicilian dress up with style and taste whenever they leave their home. Wedding celebrations are always an eye catcher in this respect. The from everybody accepted "generation pact" means a lot of care in between families members, ill and dead ones on top. Sicily is part of Europe, but it lies at it's geographical end. Where ever you go, this can be experienced on public squares and markets every day. The sicilian way of speaking is with hands and gestures, a special sicilian espression, besides the proper sicilian language. From the morning to the evening the air is full of vibrations of sicilian happiness and rage. A day in the city of Palermo, between vespas, old palaces, churches, restaurants and straight small streets and round squares - is like "a place full of sound and fury (!)" to say it with the great English poet Shakespeare. A big live theatre, with us as participants within the big scenery of mediterranean truth. 2021-23 After Covid- restarting guiding for local agencies and individual guests, roundtrips and daily tours in Sicily / such as first of all Palermo, Monreale, Cefalu, Caccamo, Segesta, but as well Erice, Trapani, Marsala, Mazara del Vallo, Selinunte, Agrigento, Siracusa, Noto, Ragusa, Modica, Pz Armerina, Taormina, Enna, Liparan Islands Lipari, 2018-23 Different formation and Workshop, as well as autodidactic tours and trips to different places of interest in Sicily. 2018-2020 Moving from Berlin to Sicily obtaining the official guide license Italian Goverment ( tessera di guida autorizzata in Sicilia nr. 1185) According to europ. DIN standard certified city guide for Berlin / Potsdam, guided tours of the city and museums and castles 2002- 2017 2012- 2015 Director of study tours and travel lectures at Urania in Berlin (Andalusia and Sicily, Northern Portugal with Lisbo Historical Guided Tours on German History in Different Languages for Foreign Delegations of the German Bundestag, Unit WI 4 International. None except I don't do extreme sport tours or risky tours.